Mamitpa

Mamitpa or Mamidpa or Tim Finnigan (c. late 1860s – September 1931) was an Iwaidja man who worked as a trepanger and boatman in the north west section of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Biography

Mamitpa was born on or near the Cobourg Peninsula in around the 1860s and he was a part of the Murran clan with his land being the Marraya and his skin group Yarriyarnim. His first language was Yiwaidja although he also spoke other languages from the Arnhem Land. He also spoke English and the language of the Makassar people due to the trade that he, and his people, had with them. This venture faced many issues and was short-lived (see: Bean Brothers for more information). He praised Mamitpa, whom he recorded as Tim Finnigan, for his excellent knowledge of English and as an expert boatman. Spencer was then sentenced to death but was later released from gaol due to a widely circulated petition.

Mamitpa also gave evidence at the trial of Wandi Wandi, and five other Aboriginal men, on trial for the murder of six Malaysian men and, in addition to testifying, he acted as an interpreter for several of the accused and other witnesses. Wandi Wandi was found guilty and hanged.

Mamitpa died in September 1931 and is buried at Gudji, at Fort Wellington.